SPRING 2012 Colon cancer screenings can help save lives ... AnMed... · of colorectal cancer, they...

SPRING 2012Colon cancer screenings

can help save lives

New procedure improves quality of life for those

with atrial fibrillation

What happens when the life you save belongs to

one of your own?

6650 Highway 81 North • Piedmont, SC 29673www.AnMedHealth.org • 864.512.5910

AnMed Health Wren Family Medicine is now accepting patients. Located near the intersection of S.C. 8 and S.C. 81, Wren Family Medicine provides primary care, lab testing and radiology services.

Come meet our expert physicians, and experience health care that passionately blends the art of caring with the science of medicine.

Call 864.512.5910 to make an appointment today.

State-of-the-art careright in your own backyard

Dr. Michael D. Seemuller Dr. Kimberly Kyker

InsideANMED HEALTH

Inside AnMed Health is published quarterly for AnMed Health staff, friends and the community.

CONTACT

Marketing Department864.512.3703

MISSIONTo passionately blend the art of caring with the science of medicine to optimize the health of our patients, staff and community.

VISIONTo be recognized and celebrated as the gold standard for healthcare quality and community health improvement.

800 North Fant Street • Anderson, SC 29621864.512.1000 • www.anmedhealth.org

F R O M T H E C E O

Inside ANMED HEALTH 3

CONTENTS 4 Early detection is the best prevention for colorectal cancer

6 Procedure provides long- term relief from common heart rhythm disorder

8 Taking care of our own

10 M.D. Minute

12 Foundation news

ON THE COVER: When Ambre Ellison (center) suffered a brain hemorrhage last fall, she experienced first-hand the kind of excellent care her colleagues provide every day.

Jean Teverbaugh woke up early on Jan. 13 because she was having trouble breathing. When she looked in the mirror, she almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back. Her face had swollen to twice its normal size. By the time Jean reached AnMed Health Medical Center, she could no longer move her tongue as a result of the swelling.

Jean was scared when she arrived at the Emergency Department, but the doctors’ and nurses’ calm, kind demeanor quickly lowered her anxiety. From the Emergency Department she was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she experienced the same reassuring balance of expertise and compassion.

Jean relocated to Anderson from New York, and her experience at AnMed Health far exceeded her expectations. Retelling the story a few weeks later, Jean said “I have never had treatment like I had here in a small hospital. They were excellent.”

Jean suffered from a severe allergic reaction, but with prompt attention she was able to recover fully. Every day, thousands of patients just like Jean are touched by the health system in some way. They might come to us for an allergic reaction, a heart rhythm disturbance (page 6) or a traumatic injury (page 8). In every case, the key to an excellent outcome is the same. Consistently great care comes from a combination of compassion, expertise and state-of-the-art technology. This tried and true equation is at the very heart of our mission “to passionately blend the art of caring with the science of medicine to optimize the health of our patients, staff and community.”

AnMed Health makes a number of investments each year to ensure residents have access to the care they need close to home. We’re employing more specialists than we ever have before and we’re continuing to add equipment, such as the new electrophysiology bi-plane and our robotic surgery system, so doctors have access to the tools they need to provide better, more precise treatments. No one ever plans an emergency, but as Jean said, “It’s a nice feeling to know that if I need it, it’s here.”

We’re in this together,

John Miller Jr. CEO, AnMed Health

When high tech meets high touch everybody wins

4 Inside ANMED HEALTH

Sandra Hurst sews diapers for babies in Honduras, a mission project of Baptist Medical & Dental Mission International. Sandra recently returned to mission work after having surgery to remove two tumors in her colon. Colon cancer is one the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States.


There isn’t a single symptom that drove Sandra Hurst to her doctor’s office in early February, just an overall sense that something with her body wasn’t right.

She wasn’t as energetic as she had been. Her sense of taste was off and her appetite was gone. She could go all day without feeling hungry. Anything sweet tasted sickeningly sweet. Anything with salt tasted sickeningly salty.

“I kept saying, ‘You know, I’m not well,’” Hurst said. “It was as vague as that.”

A friend from the Shamrock Garden Club referred her to AnMed Health Lakeside Family Medicine. She described her medical history and her current state of fatigue to Dr. Justin Moore. Given her history with polyps and her family’s history with colorectal cancer, Dr. Moore made an appointment for her to see a gastroenterologist the very next day.

A colonoscopy found two tumors, and about a week later Hurst had surgery at AnMed Health Medical Center. Surgery removed the tumors and her lymph nodes. Soon she returned home to Iva, proof that colorectal cancer

screenings can help save lives. Colorectal cancer also is one of the

most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Hurst had regular colonoscopies, one every three years or so, before moving to Iva from Kentucky. Because of those screenings, her doctors were able to discover precancerous growths, called polyps, and remove them before they turned into cancer. Screenings allow doctors to find colorectal cancer early,

Could it be cancer?Most early colorectal cancers don’t have any symptoms, which is why screening is so important. Some possible symptoms are listed below. While these aren’t always signs of colorectal cancer, they should cause you to call your doctor for a check-up:

• Blood in or on the stool

• Stomach pain, aches or cramps that do not go away

• A unexplained change in your bowel habits, constipation or diarrhea

Source: American College of Gastroenterology

Early detection is the best prevention for colorectal cancer

when treatment works best. According to the CDC, if everyone 50 and older was screened regularly, as many as 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided.

“It’s so important to stay up to date with your screenings,” said Dr. Shahzad Sheikh of AnMed Health Gastroenterology Specialists. “Sandra has a journey ahead of her, but her prognosis could have been much worse if she had waited.”

It can take 7 to 10 years to develop colorectal cancer after the first abnormal cells start growing into polyps. Several tests are available to screen for colorectal cancer. Some are used alone; others are used in combination with each other. Colonoscopy is the preferred screening because it allows doctors to look at the entire colon and identify suspicious growths. During a colonoscopy, doctors use a long, thin tube called a colonoscope to examine the entire length of the colon and rectum. The colonoscope has a video camera on the end that is connected to a display monitor. This allows the doctor to see and closely examine the inside of the colon. Special instruments can be passed through the colonoscope to remove suspicious looking areas, if necessary. Doctors recommend everyone 50 and older get a colonoscopy at least every 10 years. People like Hurst, whose medical history puts them at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, may need screenings more frequently. An alternate screening strategy for average risk individuals is a combination of fecal occult blood test and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Blood vessels at the surface of larger colorectal polyps or cancers are often easily damaged when you go to the bathroom. The blood test, which is recommended annually, can detect blood in the stool before it’s visible and alert doctors to the problem. Flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is recommended

every five years, allows doctors to look at part of the colon and rectum with a sigmoidoscope – a flexible, lighted tube about the thickness of a finger that has a small video camera on the end.

Screening guidelines vary based on a variety of factors, including a person’s age, race and family history. For example, African-Americans have a higher incidence of colorectal cancer so the American College of Gastroenterology recommends African-Americans start colorectal cancer screenings sooner, at age 45.

People make all kinds of excuses to put off a colonoscopy. Hurst dreaded them because she would wake up too soon from the anesthesia. But that’s no longer an issue. Medicine has improved significantly. By talking with Hurst and looking at her charts, Dr. Sheikh saw a pain disorder her previous doctors had missed and found a medicine that kept her asleep through her procedure.

“When it comes to cancer prevention, there’s no reason that outweighs the risks involved in putting off screenings,” Dr. Sheikh said. “You might feel awkward bringing these issues to your doctor, but you’ll be glad you did.”

Dr. Shahzad Sheikh

Colonoscopy is the preferred screening because it allows doctors to look at the entire colon and identify suspicious growths.


Fred Pless found relief from atrial fibrillation symptoms after undergoing an ablation procedure in AnMed Health’s electrophysiology lab.

Fred Pless is not one to sit around and watch a lot of TV. After a long career with the Army Corps of Engineers, this 65-year-old retiree loves nothing more than to work outside with his hands. When a heart rhythm disorder threatened to take his active lifestyle away, Pless was introduced to Dr. Joseph Manfredi and became AnMed Health’s first case of atrial fibrillation ablation.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common kind of irregular heart beat. It can cause no symptoms, but it is often associated with palpitations, fainting and chest pain. Pless was working outside one hot, Sunday afternoon when his heart started beating rapidly. He went to the emergency room in his hometown of Elberton, Ga., where doctors discovered his heart rate was somewhere between 160 and 180 beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats a minute.

A cardiologist in Athens diagnosed Pless with atrial fibrillation, and

medication controlled his condition for a while. When Pless and his wife moved from Elberton to Hartwell in early 2011, he wanted a cardiologist closer to home and found AnMed Health

Carolina Cardiology.Over time, medicine became less

and less effective at controlling Pless’s condition. His heart was enlarging, making it much more difficult to do the things he loved. If he was chopping wood or painting all day, he often had to slow down or stop when his heart started beating irregularly. “It didn’t make an invalid out of me, but I would get upset

that I’d have to stop,” Pless said. It was time for a new intervention,

so his cardiologist referred him to Dr. Manfredi at AnMed Health Arrhythmia Specialists. Dr. Manfredi is a board-certified electrophysiologist with close to a decade of experience helping patients with heart rhythm problems. After meeting with Pless and reviewing his condition, Dr. Manfredi suggested he undergo an atrial fibrillation ablation.

Atrial fibrillation ablation is a relatively new procedure where doctors position a thin wire inside the heart near the pulmonary veins. Using the tip of the wire, radio energy caps off the heart tissue around the pulmonary veins. By electrically disconnecting the pulmonary veins, their abnormal electrical signals can no longer reach the rest of the heart and trigger irregular heartbeats.

Eighty to 85 percent of all patients who undergo an atrial fibrillation ablation experience complete elimination or significantly reduced heart rhythm problems. Roughly 70 percent of patients are free of atrial fibrillation and no longer require medication.

Even though he couldn’t be 100 percent certain the procedure would cure him, Pless said it was a win-win situation. If he was one of those who saw their symptoms relieved, great. If not, he would just keep taking medicine as he had been for years. At the end of the day, the ablation was his best chance for an improved quality of life. Pless never knew when his arrhythmia would act up or what he would be doing at the time. Increasing his medication comes with side effects, and there’s also a higher risk of stroke among atrial fibrillation patients.

Pless had a choice about where to have his procedure. Dr. Manfredi had performed several atrial fibrillation ablations in Greenville, or Pless could be the first case of this kind in Anderson. He chose to have his procedure at AnMed Health because the hospital was closer to home and has a great reputation for heart and vascular outcomes.

“I didn’t see any reason to drive to Greenville when I can get the same thing done closer to home by the same doctor who would have been doing it in Greenville,” he said.

The experience lived up to all of his expectations. The staff was professional and knowledgeable, keeping Pless and his

Who is a candidate for atrial fibrillation ablation?Atrial fibrillation ablation is not for everyone. The procedure is designed to help people whose atrial fibrillation is not responding to medicine or who may not be able to take medicine because of its side effects. The ideal candidate is someone with a normal heart and atrial fibrillation that is not being controlled well with medicine.

wife informed before, during and after the procedure. Pless and his wife were able to stay calm because the staff so thoroughly prepared them for what would happen.

It takes about three months before doctors can tell if an ablation has eliminated someone’s heart rhythm problem. During that time, patients continue to take medicine and slowly resume their normal activities.

For Pless, that meant spending this week working on a granite walkway.

“I’d do it again,” he said about the procedure. “Even knowing I was the first, I’d still do it again.”

Dr. Joseph Manfredi

The electrophysiology labs at AnMed Health Heart and Vascular Center recently went through an overhaul to make room for a new three-dimensional biplane. The new equipment is allowing doctors to perform new procedures, such as atrial fibrillation ablation.

The biplane simultaneously covers a patient’s front and side for a variety of cardiovascular and neurovascular image-guided interventional procedures. Because doctors can get a better view of what’s happening in the patient’s body, these procedures can be done with fewer X-rays and contrast injections, a significant benefit for the patient.

The Heart and Vascular Center’s electrophysiology lab was under construction for about two months to make room for the new equipment. The entire room was reconfigured, from the walls to the electrical infrastructure. The renovated lab has a new control room, a new overhead support system as well as a view window and new finishes.


Expansion, new equipment brings new procedure to AnMed Health Heart and Vascular Center


Ambre Ellison’s headaches started in February 2011. As a full-time registered nurse in AnMed Health’s Emergency Department, the mother to two toddlers and a student working toward her master’s degree in nursing, the 33-year-old assumed the stress of her hectic schedule was causing her headaches. But as she was getting ready on the morning of April 7, Ellison’s headaches took an ominous turn.

“I felt a pop in my head, and I knew when I looked in the mirror that something serious was going on,” she said.

Ellison had suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage. Blood vessels in her head had ruptured and were bleeding into her brain tissue. Her husband called 911, and when EMS arrived a few moments later, Ellison was unable to speak or walk. EMS workers restarted Ellison’s heart multiple times with a defibrillator. When she arrived at AnMed Health’s Emergency Department, Ellison appeared lifeless.

“Ambre’s condition was about as critical as you can get,” said Dr. James Britenburg. “Fortunately, the more critical the situation, the more focused the ED staff becomes, and they all worked with a single-mindedness for Ambre.”

CT scans identified the nature and location of Ellison’s hemorrhage, and, within a short time, she underwent neurosurgery to stop the bleeding, remove excess blood and minimize brain swelling. Trauma Coordinator Tara Devido recalled the mood in the Emergency Department as doctors and nurses worked to save their co-worker’s life: “I saw Ambre intubated and unresponsive, and I saw everyone working through tears. I think I, and everyone else, forced the emotions off and did what we had to do to get her what she needed.”

While surgery stabilized Ellison’s condition, her recovery was far from over. She spent three weeks in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at AnMed Health Medical Center. Much of that time was, and still is, a blur to Ellison, although her

Taking care of our own

“These guys were awesome. I know they helped save my life.”

Those are words Matt Hawkins used to describe his AnMed Health LifeFlight helicopter crew, which included flight paramedic Steve Kelly and flight nurse Charlotte James.

Last May, an ATV accident left Hawkins, a surgical technician at AnMed Health Medical Center, with a skull fracture and subdural bleeding. When his fiancée found him, he was unconscious and bleeding from his ears and eyes. First responders determined that Hawkins’ severe injuries necessitated the rapid transport and treatment LifeFlight provides. Consequently, Hawkins had surgery within just a few hours of his accident, and he credits that quickness with his survival.

LifeFlight is typically called when minutes make the difference between life and death, so Kelly and James are conditioned to deal with the most critical cases.

“Our job requires constant preparation. Every day we make sure the helicopter and equipment are ready. And we are mentally prepared for whatever comes our way, even if that’s a member of our AnMed Health family,” Kelly said.

Now back at his job in the operating room, Hawkins said, “I have a new appreciation for my job, because I know that surgery can be a life-changing event.”

coworkers were acutely aware that her illness might have unwanted outcomes.

“We didn’t know what type of mental or physical deficits Ambre might have,” Devido explained. “The waiting was trying for all of us.”

As Ellison improved, it became apparent that the hemorrhage did not affect her cognitive functions. However, it impaired her fine motor skills and balance. She spent a month in inpatient rehabilitation and worked for most of the summer on an outpatient basis with occupational and physical therapists at AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital. Amazingly, by October, Ellison was ready to get back to nursing.

“Initially, I didn’t expect her to survive, and, if she did, certainly not neurologically intact,” said Dr. Britenburg. “Her recovery is astounding.”

Before returning to AnMed Health, Ellison completed several hours of rigorous testing to ensure she was mentally and physically prepared.

“While we were overjoyed to have

Ambre back, we had to make our patients’ health and safety a priority,” Devido said. “Now it’s such a win for everyone. Ambre is a wonderful nurse and loved by her patients, and it would have been a great loss not to have her here.”

Ellison believes her experience as a patient has made her a better caregiver.

“Everyone here was so compassionate and respectful of me,” she said, “and I try to show that same level of empathy to my patients.”

Throughout her ordeal, Ellison’s coworkers tended to more than just her physical needs. They took care of her housekeeping, drove her to therapy sessions and staged several fundraisers — including a bake sale, yard sale and selling “We Love Ambre” bracelets — to help cover her living expenses during her absence from work.

“The Emergency Department raised over $10,000 for me,” Ellison said. “We would not have made it financially without them. Between my family at home and my family here, I’ve not only been healed, I’ve been loved.”

Saving lives, a familiar part of the job for many AnMed Health employees, takes on a distinct significance when their patients are colleagues and friends.


Thanks to the lifesaving care of her co-workers, Emergency Department nurse Ambre Ellison survived a serious brain hemorrhage and returned to work in the fall.


M . D . M I N U T E

A conversation with Dr. Tim DunihoGiving birth does a number on a woman’s body. Each year, more than 200,000 American women undergo corrective surgery for a fallen bladder, uterus, vagina or lower bowel. These surgeries are traditionally done as open procedures, but Dr. Tim Duniho has quickly become the region’s leading expert on performing these procedures with the minimally-invasive da Vinci Surgical System. His work has made AnMed Health the first and only case observation center in South Carolina for da Vinci sacrocolpopexy. Doctors have traveled from Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina to spend a day observing his procedures.

Q. How did you decide on obstetrics and gynecology as a specialty?A. I wanted to be involved in a surgical specialty, and I thought it was going to be in general surgery. My last rotation in my third year of medical school was obstetrics, and after my first delivery, I knew I was hooked. OB/GYN offers such a variety from endocrinology, gynecologic surgery, preventive medicine and the privilege to care for women during pregnancy.

Q. The da Vinci Surgical System is just one example of how medical technology is improving at a rapid pace. How does the da Vinci Surgical System change the way doctors operate?A. Gynecology is one of the surgical specialties that has helped advance noninvasive surgery. Our specialty is working to try to eliminate open gynecologic surgery and make minimally invasive surgery the gold standard. The da Vinci system allows greater mechanical skills, better visualization, and improves a doctor’s ability to suture over traditional laparoscopic surgery.

Q. What are some of the benefits for patients?A. The benefits to the patient are smaller incisions and less pain, which allows for a quicker recovery and reduces not only the hospital stay, but also gets people back to work earlier. With the greater visualization and increased mechanical maneuverability of the instruments, the da Vinci system allows for less blood loss and reduced need for open surgical procedures.

Q. You’ve become quite well known for using the da Vinci to correct pelvic prolapse. What drove your interest in that procedure?

A. The procedure is known as sacrocolpopexy, which means securing the vagina to the sacrum. It involves an abdominal incision that is painful and requires sometimes prolonged recovery. The da Vinci has allowed us to perform the same procedure with smaller incisions, which decreases abdominal pain, speeds recovery time and ultimately benefits the patient. The da Vinci system really improves our suture ability, which has always been the most difficult part of traditional laparoscopic surgery. What ultimately grew my interest was to provide the same quality of surgical care yet decreasing the amount of pain that our patients were having and getting them back to their activities much sooner.

Q. For many women, talking about women’s health issues is so taboo. What are some questions women should be asking their doctors but might be too afraid to ask? A. If someone is going to have a gynecologic surgery, they should ask their doctor if he or she is trained in minimally invasive surgery, how long they have been doing it, and what kind of complications they have had. Never be afraid to ask questions.

Q. As a doctor, you get asked for advice all the time. What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?A. Be true to myself and not to try to be someone I am not. Find out what you like and are good at, and be the best you can be. To find a balance in life between work, play, family and God. In the end, do not take yourself too seriously.

Q. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best? What happened and what did you learn?

A. I found that the trials in my life were the events that helped me to grow the most and draw me closer to God. At the time, I enjoyed none of them and most of them were my own doing. The event that changed me the most was the birth of my son, Tanner, who was born with Down’s syndrome. He has taught me to love, live, forgive and treasure the simple things of life, and to overlook all of our imperfections.

THE 411 ON DR. DUNIHO

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Practice: AnMed Health OB-GYN Associates

Location: 2000 E. Greenville St. Suite 4500, Anderson, SC 29621

Phone: 864.512.4500

Dr. Tim Duniho


NEWS BRIEFS

New program helps those with neurological disorders take their next step

AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital recently launched Next Steps, a neurological extended support and treatment program.

After a stroke diagnosis, patients often have a period of acute rehabilitation. Patients can recover (or decline) months after that rehab is over. And without a re-evaluation by therapists, they may never have the opportunity for optimal recovery. Similarly, when someone is diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease, they will benefit from developing a relationship with an interdisciplinary group of therapists who can provide education, direct treatment when needed, and guide them to equipment loans, trials, support groups or other needs.

Patients in the Next Steps program undergo screenings to determine their needs. The staff follows the patients’ progress at regular 3 to 6 month intervals, depending on the patient’s needs. Screenings and evaluations are coordinated with the patient’s neurologist or family doctor so the physician will receive a current functional evaluation from the patient’s therapists prior to the follow-up appointments.

The Next Steps program is held on Tuesday mornings in the outpatient department of AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information or to refer a patient, call AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital at 864.716.2647.

AnMed Health ranks among the nation’s best regional hospitals

U.S. News & World Report listed AnMed Health among the nation’s Best Regional Hospitals for 2011-12. The magazine annually publishes its Best Hospitals rankings in July. At the midpoint of the 2011-12 year, its editors recognized 247 hospitals outside major metropolitan areas as Best Regional Hospitals. The list of those hospitals is available online at www.usnews.com/bestregionalhospitals.

Hospitals like AnMed Health offer a high level of medical care to communities that otherwise might have limited options, said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor.

“All Best Regional Hospitals are what we call ‘high performers’ in at least one medical specialty,” Comarow said. “They are fully capable of providing first-rate care, even to most patients who have serious conditions or need demanding procedures.”

U.S. News annually evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals in 16 different medical specialties. Hard numbers stand behind its analysis in most specialties—death rates, patient safety, procedure volume and other objective data. Physicians’ responses to a national survey, in which specialists are asked to name hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases, also are factored in.

Physician network adds neurology and gastroenterology specialists

AnMed Health recently welcomed two new specialists to its physician network.

In March, Consultative Gastroenterology became AnMed Health Gastroenterology Specialists. AnMed Health Gastroenterology Specialists cares for patients with stomach and intestinal problems. The office is the medical practice of Dr. Shahzad Sheikh, a board certified gastroenterologist with 18 years of medical experience. Dr. Sheikh graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine and completed residency and fellowship training at Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut.

“By joining the Physician Network, we’ll continue working together to provide excellent care and I can focus more exclusively on doing what I love, which is spending time with patients,” Dr. Sheikh said.

AnMed Health also launched a new medical practice to provide inpatient neurology care at AnMed Health Medical Center. AnMed Health Neurology Consultants cares for patients who are hospitalized after a stroke or seizure, as well as those suffering from neuromuscular disorders, headache disorders and movement disorders. The practice welcomed its first physician in March.

Dr. Kumar Patel, is a board certified neurologist specializing in neurology, neuroimaging and neurophysiology. He graduated from Pramukhswami Medical College and Long Island University. Dr. Patel did his residency at the University of Vermont then went on to do two fellowships, one in clinical neuroimaging at Virginia Commonwealth University and one in clinical neurophysiology at the University of Virginia.

“The people here have been so welcoming and the hospital’s Neuroscience Center is state-of-the-art. Those things combined make Anderson a great place to live and work.” Dr. Patel said.


Visions S P E C I A L S E C T I O N

Deteriorating health has added to Ricky and Mary Posey’s daily worries in the past several years. But throughout life’s ups and downs, one thing they could count on is receiving quality medical care at AnMed Health Westside Family Medicine.

“Westside Family Medicine is a vital part of our community,” Ricky said. “They treat us like we are somebody, not just another patient.”

Before becoming disabled, Ricky worked as a carpenter while his wife worked at Goodwill and raised their four children.

About Westside Family Medicine

• AnMed Health Westside Family Medicine offers preventative health, wellness and medical services, including laboratory services, EKG and minor office surgery.

• Westside Family Medicine opens its doors to more than 6,000 patient visits each year.

• 50 percent of Westside Family Medicine patients receive coverage through Medicare; 30 percent are covered by Medicaid and 20 percent pay a sliding scale fee.

• 52 percent of Westside patients are Caucasian; 47 percent are African-American and 1 percent are Hispanic.

Westside Family Medicine fills a critical gap in community

In 2007, Ricky learned he had a blood clot in his heart and later that year was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma – a type of skin cancer. With successful surgery and treatments, he survived both conditions. But poor health continued to affect the couple’s quality of life. Both have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and Ricky suffered a stroke earlier this year.

Unable to work, the couple lives on a fixed income and faces ongoing costs for medical care. Westside Family Medicine fills a critical gap in the community,

serving patients like the Poseys who otherwise could not afford to see a primary care physician. With support from the AnMed Health Foundation, the practice can allow patients to pay on a sliding scale based on their income or insurance/Medicaid coverage. The Poseys, like many others struggling to make ends meet, rely on Westside Family Medicine for medical care.

“It’s critical for us to get to a doctor promptly, because our sugars can go haywire quickly. Things can go from bad to worse in a matter of minutes,” Ricky said. “We are grateful that such a wonderful doctor’s office is so convenient and accessible to those in need.”

Before coming to see Dr. Chris Boggs, Ricky’s diabetes treatment included several pills and five shots of insulin a day, but his sugar levels were still dangerously high. Thanks to Dr. Boggs’ careful attention, Ricky is down to three insulin shots a day and has not been to the hospital for diabetes in more than a year.

“I ended up in the hospital quite a few times. [My diabetes] would get to the point where I couldn’t see or function, but Dr. Boggs got me on the right track with better diabetes management,” he said.

Demand for Westside Family Medicine’s services has increased with the rise in unemployment. But the resources for staff, equipment and medicine continue to diminish. Donations to the AnMed Health Foundation support Westside Family Medicine and other critical community programs that promote health and wellbeing in the community.

“I don’t know what we would do without Westside Family Medicine,” Ricky said. “I thank God for them every day.”

Dr. Chris Boggs gives Ricky Posey a check-up at AnMed Health Westside Family Medicine.


Because of contributions to the AnMed Health Foundation, hopelessness is replaced with promise. Thanks to all our donors and supporters for improving the life and health of your community.

More than 550 guests gathered at the Civic Center of Anderson to dance and mingle at the 18th annual Camellia Ball. This year’s event raised more than $114,000 to support AnMed Health Pediatric Therapy Works, which provides specialized therapy for children with developmental disorders and delays.

Thanks to the generosity of the Camellia Ball’s sponsors, volunteers and friends, children can receive the treatment they need to overcome obstacles related to autism, Down’s Syndrome, spina bifida and other genetic and neurological disorders. At Pediatric Therapy Works, therapists give each child the tools they need to develop mentally, physically and emotionally and reach their full potential.

2012 Camellia Ball raises $114,000 for Pediatric Therapy Works

ABOVE: A special thank you to Louretta West (center), the 2012 Camellia Ball committee chair, for her hard work to make this year’s event a success. We welcome the 2013 co-chairs, Taylor King Young (left) and Dorothy Camak (right) and look forward to another special event on Feb. 3, 2013.

TOP LEFT: Guests enjoy dancing to the sound of Johnny White and the Elite band.

TOP RIGHT: Former Pediatric Therapy Works patient, 3-year-old Lucy Gray, joins Belinda Bacher, Pediatric Therapy Works program manager, on stage during the sponsorship party.

CENTER RIGHT: Lucy Gray with her older sister Lani and Joel Gray.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Kelly Southard, physical therapist assistant, and Tyra King holding her son Cole, a Pediatric Therapy Works patient, welcome guests as they arrive at the 2012 Camellia Ball.


AnMed Health’s most generous donors, James and Katie Campbell, made an impact on our community that will last for generations. James, who passed away on Jan. 26, was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years in 2009. James Campbell was 93.

The couple felt strongly about making a difference in the community by giving back. With no children of their own, the Campbells gave graciously of their time and treasures to benefit others. The Campbell’s donations to the AnMed Health Foundation have made – and will continue to make – a tremendous impact on the health and wellbeing of our community.

“We are truly saddened by the loss of Mr. Campbell. He has been a true friend and will be sincerely missed,” said John Miller, AnMed Health CEO. “James and Katie Campbell’s affinity and generosity to the AnMed Health Foundation have enabled us to serve many people. Their

James Campbell, an enthusiastic supporter of the AnMed Health Foundation, passed away earlier this year. James and his late wife, Katie Campbell, pictured here with John Miller, gave nearly $2 million to support the Foundation’s mission during the past 20 years.

Remembering AnMed Health benefactor James H. Campbell

charitable spirit was admirable and an inspiration to many.”

James Campbell’s ties to AnMed Health date back to the Great Depression when he helped his mother run a country store. On his last stop heading out of town, he would sell eggs and chickens to doctors and nurses at Anderson Memorial Hospital.

A 1936 graduate of Easley High School, James was one of 12 children. His parents’ 600-acre farm grew cotton, grain, corn and alfalfa hay. James later inherited the land, and he and his wife ran the farm for many years. The South Carolina Council of Co-Ops named him Co-Op Man of the Year in 1969 and Distinguished Agriculturalist in 1984.

James Campbell was also a 36-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He served in the South Pacific during World War II before transferring to the U.S. Air Force Reserve and National Air Guard. He retired as a senior master sergeant

in 1978. In 1964, James became the Williamston postmaster. He continued to work at the post office until his retirement.

In 1998, the couple made their first major donation to AnMed Health in the amount of $908,000. The James and Katie Campbell Building on North Fant Street, which houses the AnMed Health Children’s Health Center, was named in their honor. In 2003, they donated another $250,000 to support the Women’s Health Center and the Children’s Health Center.

The Campbells stepped up twice to support the Foundation’s largest capital campaign and expansion efforts, the Partners for Life campaign. In 2005, they gave a $275,000 gift for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Then later in the campaign, they made a challenge gift of $350,000 to push the Foundation closer to its $8 million goal.


S P E C I A L S E C T I O N

The Foundation supports AnMed Health by funding programs, services and capital expansion projects through charitable giving. As a 501(c) 3, the Foundation enables caring people in our community to come together and give of their time, talents and treasure to enhance our health care system and improve the overall health and well-being of our community.

The class of 2011 included:

• Jackie Blakeley, Tri-County Technical College• Maggie Bost• Don Chapman, Chapman Design• Brent Cromer, Cromer Food Services• Judy Darby• Joe Drennon, Anderson Area YMCA• Gary Hearn, Wells Fargo• Kenny Jeffcoat, real estate developer• Datrick Jefferson, D. Jefferson and Associates • Zach Loftis, Hill Electric• Jason Sanders, TD Bank • Louretta West, 2012 Camellia Ball chair

Foundation kicks off employee campaign this spring

The AnMed Health Foundation kicks off its 2012-13 employee campaign in May. The campaign is an opportunity for employees to support vital community programs and initiatives at AnMed Health. The campaign will focus on the difference each dollar makes in the lives of real people in the community.

F O U N D AT I O N N E W S

Ambassadors participate in 10-month program

The AnMed Health Foundation recently celebrated the graduation of 12 new Foundation ambassadors. The ambassador program is a structured education series that provides participants insight into the services available at AnMed Health. Every month for 10 months, ambassadors meet with AnMed Health senior management, department directors and program managers to gain knowledge about programs and initiatives, and become involved in the health and life of our community.

Back row left to right: Gary Hearn, Brent Cromer, Datrick Jefferson, Joe Drennon and Jason Sanders, Front row left to right: Maggie Bost, Louretta West and Jackie Blakley

A grateful gift that will keep on giving

The AnMed Health Family Medicine Center, the practice site for the AnMed Health Family Medicine Residency Program, recently honored two of its former patients by dedicating its waiting room in their honor.

Edison Thomas and his wife, Gene, were patients at the Family Medicine Center for 25 years. The couple was always pleased with the care they received from family medicine residents and faculty. To express their gratitude, the Thomases left a portion of their estate – $63,172 – to the Family Medicine Center.

Mr. Thomas’ two sisters surprised the Family Medicine Center with a check in October. After renovations, the Family Medicine Center unveiled The Mr. and Mrs. Edison C. Thomas Waiting Room in February.

Edison Thomas’ three siblings –Walter Thomas, Nora Moon and Dorothy Rachels and their family members – celebrated the dedication of a renovated waiting room named in their brother’s honor at the AnMed Health Family Medicine Center.

800 North Fant Street • Anderson, SC 29621www.anmedhealth.org

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

Greenville, SCPermit No. 374


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It’s time for Teddy’s annual check-up! Bring your child and his or her favorite stuffed animal to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for this interactive, fun-filled clinic. Watch medical fears disappear as teddy bears undergo a series of screenings and procedures.

Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to Noon 2000 East Greenville Street in Anderson

Open to all kids ages 4-10 Children must be accompanied by an adult

SPRING 2012 Colon cancer screenings can help save lives ... AnMed... · of colorectal cancer, they...

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